A Class 11 boy from a shelter home for underprivileged students marked his first day at a junior college in Maharashtra's Latur not by boarding a bus or riding a bicycle, but running for 16 km to reach the campus. An education department official lauded the boy's initiative to run for health and education, saying it was an inspiration for others. Rahul Rathod's run on Wednesday was not just a test of physical endurance but a powerful message on the importance of fitness, education and determination, the education and college officials said. The boy, son of sugarcane labourers and inmate of a local shelter home for underprivileged students for the last six years, covered the distance on foot in 1 hour and 15 minutes without using any public transport. "He has set a new benchmark of inspiration. Students like Rahul enrich the spirit of educational institutions," Panchgalle said on the occasion. Passionate about javelin throw and weightlifting, the boy has participated in marathons in Dharashiv, Latur and Pune, and said he aspires to join the Indian Police Service and represent the country in the Olympics.